"Ok… Thank you very much." Minami heard as she walked out of the classroom door.
"Yuki?" Minami asked as she saw the teacher walk away. "What's wrong?"
"Hmm?" Yuki turned around to look at her. "It seems my mother decided to change the date of the interview…" He sighed. "But, that she'll even come is a cause for great celebration… I think. From her it probably is. Did you decided what you're going to do?"
"No, not anymore." Minami said and he looked at her confused.
"I thought you were already aware what you wanted to do…?" Yuki asked and she sent him a cold look.
"I just realized that I've been chasing after a ghost's dream." Minami said with a cold smile. "So I have to rethink a lot about myself and what I want to do. What about you Yuki?"
"Hm… well, I think I'd like to…" He drifted off.
"It's fine to not be sure." Minami told him as she saw his expression. "We're always rushing to figure out the answers, but not knowing is good too. Think about your own future, and don't let anyone else try to shape it for you. I know you can do it."
He looked at her with a smile. "Sometimes I wish you were able to be there for me instead." Yuki said and she looked of him embarrassed. "I hope you'll be able to get your answers as well."
"Thanks… Yuki.." Minami said and he waved goodbye to her. Shigure came into the school with geel to keep his hair down and a suit.
"Did you see?!" A student asked as Shigure sent her a happy smile and leaned against the wall near Minami.
"I did, I did! Who is that really good looking guy!" Another girl asked.
"Is Honda-san's host father?"
"No! She's Japanese remember!"
"Well she doesn't look it…"
"Wait then is he really her father?!"
"Maybe he's one of her distant relatives?!"
"No he's her boyfriend!"
"That's right! She has a thing for older men!"
"No no no! Minami's guy is a doctor remember?"
"How could I not?!"
"Wait then he's probably single!"
"Could You imagine if Mayu-chan were to fall for him or something?!"
"Shh- they'll hear you."
"... already have." Minami whispered as she looked up at the complete look of disgust and disdain on Shirashi-sensei's face as Shigure mentally cheered in delight. "Se-Sensei…?"
"Ah.. sorry…. I'd heard that you were staying with the Sohma's but.." She walked inside the room and they followed her. "A sub… I see… Well have a seat…"
Silence.
"Thank you for making the time in your busy schedule to come in. It's so extremely considerate of you." Mayuko said with a blinding yet entirely fake smile.
"Ahaha. Not at all." Shigure said with a gleeful smile. "I'm only doing what any other person would normally do."
Minami shivered as she looked at their cold exchange.
"Well, shall we get started then." Her teacher said. "I heard that you had some second thoughts about your form, but how about we talk about your original idea and then move onto the next thoughts."
"Yes." Minami said and Shigure looked over at her for a second.
"Originally you were planning on continuing with school, is that correct?"
"Yes." Minami agreed. "One that either focused with international relations or interpretation."
"You have the highest scores in English that the school had ever received. Perhaps ones of the highest in the country." Mayuko said and Shigure whistled.
"That good?" He looked at her impressed and Minami looked down with a weak smile on her face. It wasn't as though she could explain the real reason why she was so good anyway.
"You could easily receive scholarships to school's of your choosing." Mayuko continued. "Your academics average out rather well, though they have dropped compared to your first year. Good math and science, high history and Japanese. Due to your background you might be accepted as an international student, passed the JLPT N1 with high scores although they shouldn't have been considered necessary as you have Japanese citizenship. The results are in your favor."
Mayuko stared up at her. "After you graduate, you're planning on leaving the Sohma's home then?"
"Yes I am." Minami agreed.
"In that case, do you want to become my wife?" Shigure asked and looked at Minami, effectively changing the subject. "I'm already 28 and people around me are starting to tell me I should settle down too." He released a laugh.
"You laugh like that but…" Minami said.
"You shouldn't do things like that you know -?" Mayuko said with the same smile as before. Her eyes bore into Shigure's. "Speaking the words of proposal, that are so important to girls, in such a light manner. It's because of that, that you can't get married, is it not -?"
"Sorry? Do you mean you're the type whos till has dreams of being proposed to? It's because of that you've let the marriageable age slip by, is it not -?"
Minami felt her jaw drop as she stared at them.
"Honda?"
"Yes?" Minami asked and looked over at her.
"I wanted to speak with you about your current thoughts." She pulled out the new form Minami filled out. "You knew out your previous plan in it's entirety."
"Wait you did?" Shigure asked shocked and Minami felt his eyes but she ignored them.
"Yes I did." Minami said. "I found that I was just trying to give myself a path that would easily help me understand… the way I appeared in this country, as I'm sure you're both aware of." Minami said easily. "In the beginning I wanted to search for my relatives and build a connect with my lost background and alternate reality in which I actually lived with my birth parents in the U.S. I though that international business and interpretation would be the easiest way to fulfill this 'dream' of mine."
Minami paused and saw she had all their attention. "But I came to a realization, that I don't need to fulfill that dream because I already spent my life with a family I cared about and friends I hold dear. No one has any idea of how I appeared in this country, and I truly believe… that no one ever will. I have decided not to allow my past to define me any longer. My grades have dropped because I don't feel the need to be 'perfect' or prove my own self-worth to my classmates. So although I'm not sure what I want to do at the current moment, I like to think that I'm getting towards that path."
"I believe that once I live the Sohma's house and give more time to myself to focus on my own needs, my own desires, then I'll be able to choose my future. But until then, I'm fine in not deciding just yet, though your and the school's availability to talk about this issue is always appreciative."
There was a moment of silence.
"It's seems you've grown up." Mayuko said with a soft smile on her face. "The girl that I meet a year ago, and one I see before me… will grow up to be marvelous adults."
Minami looked down embarrassed. "Thank you."
It was around this time that Shigure stood up. "Mi-chan, I'm sore, but would you mind going on ahead of me? I'd like to talk to your teacher about something for a moment." The disgusted look on her teacher's face was enough to make Minami leave.
"Thanks Shigure, for being here, I appreciated it." Minami said and he sent her a soft smile, one that looked real.
"I hope you'll be able to get your answers, one day." Shigure said and Minami nodded and left. It didn't take long for her to return home. She explained the day to Kyo and Yuki.
"Did Shigure take thing seriously when he accompanied you?" Kyo asked.
"I'm not entirely sure." Minami said. "But he listened and was there, it was all I could've asked for. He's just my guardian, I don't expect him to act like a father."
"It would be hard to imagine him as one anyway." Kyo said with a sigh
"You might want to hide Shishou went you go into the school, since he's good looking." Minami said.
"Wha-"
"All the girls were talking about Shigure." Minami explained.
"They're all a bunch of idiots." Kyo said.
"I'm home!" Shigure yelled out. His hair was already messy. "Aaaahhh… wearing a suit for such a long time is really tiring, isn't it…"
"What are you, some sort of drunk…?" Kyo asked.
"Welcome back." Minami said.
"Thank you yeah well, I went to return the suit to Ha-san. That's why I'm back so late."
"To return?" Yuki asked and pointed at the suit in question. "But you're weaning it."
"... 'I don't want those things anymore. Burn them and throw 'em away.'" Shigure imitated. "That's what he said so I kept them and brought 'em home. I got Ha-san's 300,000 yen suit." (About 2,800 USD).
"No doubt, you said those things in a really annoying way.." Kyo and looked at him side-eyed.
"At least get it cleansed before returning it…" Yuki scolded.
"But them, it's not lie he'll wear thing…" Shigure said and laughed. "I'm hungry!"
Minami, Hana and Uo were on clean up duty. "How was the meeting?" Uo asked.
"Minami… you're worried about something aren't you…" Hana said. "I can feel the waves swirling about…"
"What's this? Something you can't even talk to us about?" Uo pouted.
"No, no it's just…. You know thinking about the future, I lost my plans so I'm not sure anymore. Just a little insecure." Minami explained.
"That's pretty natural isn't it? I also feel insecure about things? It feels like something edging closer and closer from somewhere around the back. Not to mention my dad told me to think through more carefully. What to do.."
"Me too…" Hana said and looked out the window. "I was told to at least graduate…"
"Hana…" Minami sighed.
"Y'know, that's talking about the very minimum line." Uo looked over at Minami. "... But in your case, you've probably been thinking too much about this and that." Hana placed a hand on her head. "Please, don't keep it all locked up. After all, that would make a waste of 'now.'... and makes us worry. I think you've already grown a lot anyway, I'd rather not see you sad.. Like those days ever again."
Minami smiled at Uo. "I'm getting there, I'm sure the answer will come, but losing your plans and then having to build new ones can be terrifying."
"Just try to work on the you, the you right now, the future will come eventually." Uo said.
"You'll be able to achieve it." Hana said. "As long as we're together, we'll always be able to help each other, no matter how far the distance." Minami was about to say something when she saw Hana look out the window. "Hm… who's that… with Sohma Kyo?"
"It's Shishou, he's Kyo's father." Minami said and Uo rushed to the window.
"Eh. Seriously?!" Uo yelled. "I was completely under the impression that is parents would have orange hair-"
"Well…" Minami trialed off.
"He's doesn't resemble Kyo very much but he's not bad…" Uo continued.
"What a hunk." Hana said and they froze. Hana turned to them with a blank look on her face. "Hmmm?"
"What's with you guys…?" There were no words that could be said at that moment.
"Let's go see carrot-top." Uo said after the shock finally wore off. As they saw Kyo standing in the hallway, thinking about something. Uo took off her shoe and tossed it at him, though Kyo caught it easily. He looked at them shocked.
"You brat… You caught it or you that…" Uo said socked.
"Damn you Uotani. You were really trying to hit me weren't you?" Kyo said annoyed.
"Shut up!" Uo yelled. "We're not leaving! We're coming over and crashing at your guys' place today!"
"Soumen party." Minami said.
"Soumen…?" Kyo trailed off and he relaxed with a soft smile on his face was he got it. "Yeah let's do it." He tossed his arm around Minami's shoulders.
"You alright?" Minami whispered as they walked forward.
"Yeah, just thinking that's all." Kyo said. "I guess we're in the same boat now, two confused high schoolers with no plans."
"Doesn't sound so bad when you say it like that." Minami teased and his smile widened.
"Yeah, I guess not." He said softly. As they returned to Shigure's they told the story to Yuki… about Hana's newfound feelings.
"... eh? Hanajima-san feels… about Shihan…?" Yuki trailed off. "But… having such an old child is a bit worrisome…."
"Things'll work out with respect to that right!" Uo let out a loud laugh as she saw Kyo's face.
"Hang on a minute… That means Hanajima would become my mother; that's an absolute no thank you…" Kyo said."
"By the way - aren't you guys forgetting about how Kazuma-dono feels?"
